KAPA187: Who is Malachite and where does the name come from?
MALACHITE: Malachite is my alter ego. Think of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Spiderman/Peter Parker, Superman/Clark Kent. Malachite is many things, a poet, writer, recording artist, producer and sound engineer. I am a complete musician.
I always wanted to call myself something that represented where I was from. Malachite is a stone, chemically it’s a carbonate made with the metal copper. Being from Zambia, our country is known for its copper and I knew that when I become successful in music (God willing) I want to put our country on the map in a positive light by referring to myself with the name of one of our many natural riches. I remember seeing a lot of Malachite stones during the Saturday Market and always found them interesting.
KAPA187: What/who first inspired you to start making rap music .
MALACHITE:Back in English class at L.I.C.S. I noticed I really had a passion for writing and poetry. I loved reading poetry and rhyming. Whenever we had writing assignments I used to find myself writing creative stories and struggled to keep within word limits. I would write endlessly. The high grades that I scored were a further sign that I have a gift in this department.
Ironically I wasn’t a big fan of music growing up. I used to hate when my sister was always listening to popular music and trying to force it on me. It was just a matter of time before the same thing I originally hated became my life.
My inspiration to start making rap music came from Eminem and a little bit of DMX. Eminem was my favourite rapper growing up, He inspired me to start writing by utilizing the gifts I had found in English class.
Ultimately God is my biggest inspiration to make music because I feel this talent didn’t just randomly occur. It was a God given gift. Who am I to not use a gift from God?
KAPA187: You released a mixtape some years ago called “The wake up”. It had some success with hits such as “Exchange numbers”. How was that experience?
MALACHITE: ‘The Wake Up’ is one of my favorite projects. I found myself as a person at that time. ‘Exchange Numbers’ was actually off my first project one year before ‘The Wake Up’. That was my first ‘hit’ if you will because of how the public, the Zambian audience received it. A lot of people loved the song, could relate to it and it did really well on the countdowns. I thank my fans and Zambian people who supported that song during its time. <
Creating “The Wake up” was one of the best experiences in my life so far. When you have a vision of what you want to be or who you want to be, seeing it manifest in life is impossible to describe, especially when the dream is far from who you are previously. Achieving chart success alongside established artists at the age of 17 brought euphoria and most importantly it showed me that this is possible. It made me believe.
KAPA187: What made you decided to take time off from your music career and what was your inspiration to get back at it.
MALACHITE: Sometimes I wish I never took time off, I wonder where I would be if I stuck to it consistently ever since the beginning. I only came to realize now that the time off was necessary. I’m on a path, a plan, God’s plan and it was all part of the process to make me the artist I am now.
The commitments that forced me take time off were mostly education and work. My amazing parents who I love forever, supported and still support my music. They always looked out for my best interests and so getting a proper education to have something to fall back on was always a wise choice.
I came to Canada to further my music dream by studying music engineering. Once that was done I went to college to study Advertising as a fallback. From there life hit. When life hits, sometimes the dreams have to be put on hold. You have to grow up, you have to work, you have to support yourself, you experience new things, you transition from a boy to a young man to a man.
All these things take time away from music. So doing all at the same time was just impossible really. I knew I’d always come back to music, but it got to the point where I knew I had to take a break for a good reason.
The inspiration to get back came in signs from God, a realization that this is my destiny. The time off allowed me to grow, so that when Malachite returned he would be at the best of his nature. Ready to truly take the dream and make it a reality with no distractions.
I speak of this in my current upcoming project.
KAPA187: Tell us about your new upcoming project “Starting 11” ,what was the concept behind it .
MALACHITE: There are a few things in life I am insanely passionate about. Obviously music is one, but football is the other. If I couldn’t be a musician my dream would have been to be a football star. I have always loved football and the passion for it only ever grew with time. I am a die hard Arsenal fan forever. This is our year boys!
My manager (Iyembi Nkanza), amazing individual, managed me when I was on my rise in music in Zambia, and is also managing this project. We were discussing how this time around we are going for gold. Enough of the “trying to make it” but rather going for it like it’s our last chance. This day and age is very different to when I started music, everybody makes music now because there is no barrier. What is important is standing out, making something unique and of quality at the same time. We decided to do something in this genre that hasn’t been done before. Combining my two passions. Music and football. So began the creation of the Starting XI.
This project is a mixtape that has a football theme that many will notice. There are noticeable football elements in the songs titles, lyrics and some effects. The same way a team has a Stating XI of players intending to win, this project will have 11 songs to start this journey to the top.
Each song is related to a player position. As you can see in the image below, each player is labeled with a song title, which is also related to the position of the player. For example, The song Right back is in the Right back player position and the song Kick Off would be around the center. Eventually the team (the project) will fill up completely, telling a story, and allowing people to bounce back and forth from each song as you would pass the ball from player to player to eventually reach your goal.
The story is a combination of dope music and events in my journey since leaving Zambia that made me who I am today, getting back to this music to chase the dream to finally make it.
KAPA187: How has your approach to making music changed since your first mixtape?
MALACHITE: I now like to make professional sounding, excellent quality music that can be grasped by the masses. I like to make music that’s authentic, and that people can enjoy and relate to even if they don’t really enjoy rap. I am no longer afraid of failure or criticism. Now I simply make music that I’m proud of, and let the people do the rest.
KAPA187: Apart from music what else do you do ?
MALACHITE: This is it. This is my life. Music. This is my everything.
KAPA187: .How do feel about the level at which zambian hiphop is right now?
MALACHITE: I feel Zambian hip hop has definitely grown for the better and keeps growing with time.
Back in 2006 I think we struggled to find an identity within the genre. Most rappers would imitate because we didn’t know that adding our unique flavor could make the music even better.
I feel that Zambian artists are now fusing our unique culture into the sound more than ever. The best rap music is authentic to what is true to the artist, and the listeners are able to connect with the truth. I believe we can only go from strength to strength. I hope to collaborate with notable Zambian artists in today’s age.
KAPA187: What are your future plans, are you planning on making an album.
MALACHITE: The plan is for us to succeed. When that happens at the appropriate level I will work on an album and eventually many albums. For now I am working on the first of four mixtapes planned for 2014. I definitely plan to stick to making music forever now, no more breaks.
KAPA187: Any last words for your fans
MALACHITE: I genuinely love every individual who supports and believes in Malachite. Without the fans and supporters, the believers, I’d be nothing. All artists would be nothing without the fans. I want to thank everybody that takes the time to hear my story, join my journey and listen to and support my music.
Lastly I call to my fans, the Zambian people and anybody reading this article, to join the movement, its completely free. Subscribe to the YouTube, like the Facebook, follow us on twitter, Soundcloud etc they all make a big difference. Together lets take Zambia to heights its never been before. And don’t worry guys. Ama be right back!
Pass and move
Kick off
Yellow and red
You can contact Malachite on the following social media sites
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/formalachite
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/formalachite
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/formalachite
soundcloud : http://www.soundcloud.com/formalachite
BY KAPA187
Cant trust a man who wears a football jersey
My advice is, forget the musical career darling and concentrate on finding a job where you will be photographed with a suit and tie and not a poor man’s football team
#unimpressed
Thanks
And Sata likes him on facebook
interesting concept . i will have a listen to the songs .
you mushota find something constructive to do.
Nice songs my guy .keep it up
Great interview , i like the passion you have for your music.
Certainly hits a chord to us fellow football fans, I’m interested to see how this all develops. Props.
I’ve heard of this chap. solid interview. the concept is very interesting the music is good. keep it up
Well done Malachite, this concept is something creative. You have been making quality music for a long time, this time take it all the way.
I have been following Malachite for a long time. Great to see him back and with so much passion. The lyrics and the beats are really catchy. Cant wait to hear more! Keep it up!
I’m diggin this concept Malachite.
Very unique. Keep doing your thing bro!
Nice stuff, sounds better than most stuff on the radio, waiting for the 11 to be complete
Very inspirational. Looking forward to hearing some new beats.
Keep on keeping on Malachite, you are a talent. We need some positive vibes through our speakers. Never let anyone tell you that it’s impossible. The correct attitude will get you where you wanna be.
yellow and red is cool